MYH and SRT initiative launched

Mind Your Head (MYH) is delighted to be part of the Shetland Recreational Trust’s (SRT) initiative to raise awareness of positive mental health to children. All Shetland school children aged 7-12 will have an opportunity to participate in educational visits to Clickimin Leisure Complex over the coming months.

The children will receive information packs part sponsored by MYH. Shona Manson, Chairperson of MYH believes the excellent links established between SRT and MYH will highlight the link between an active lifestyle and positive mental health.

Diane Leyland, SRT’s Health and Fitness Manager said ‘We are delighted to support MYH and promote our healthy benefits message of ‘5 a week’. People of all ages are urged to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Children should aim for 60 minutes of exercise daily. The 30 minutes of physical activity necessary can be built up in bouts of 10 minutes or more. Not only does physical activity make you feel good, it is key to reducing the risks of cancer, heart disease and obesity. People who are physically active reduce their risk of developing major chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes’.

Joint work continues with NHS Shetland to establish a MYH Self Help Practitioner. The new post-holder will work with people with mild to moderate mental health issues, supporting them in the use of self help materials and to find ways of building self esteem and resilience. Training will also be undertaken with other professionals. Alan Murdoch, Manager of the Community Mental Health Team said ‘This is an excellent opportunity for MYH to work together with mental health service providers to develop a resource to enable people to stay well and improve their ability to prevent more serious mental illnesses developing’.

A collaborative project is also ongoing between MYH and Bridges. Bridges supports young people who are not in education or employment, to gain skills, experience and confidence to find work, vocational or academic study suited to them. With help from young people at Bridges information cards are being developed and will be distributed later this year to all young people aged 12-18 in Shetland. Brenda Leask, Bridges Co-ordinator said ‘ We were pleased to work on this project with MYH as it is giving young people the chance to discuss their issues and concerns, making it acceptable to talk about moods, feelings and difficulties in life’.

MYH is also undertaking a capacity building exercise to establish the possibility of employing a co-ordinator to take forward the many exciting projects identified since the formation of the charity four years ago. The MYH committee would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has donated to the charity and for their continued support.

The Round Spiggie Fun Run and Walk date has been set for Sunday 9 August 2009. Please visit www.mindyourhead.org.uk for more details and updates or email [email protected]